Monthly Archive: May 2010
“Flying Saxophone Circus” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suite No. 2; DVORAK: Slavonic Dances Nos. 1, 7 & 8; MILHAUD: Scaramoche; GERSHWIN: American Stories Suite; JEAN MATITIA: Devil’s Rag for 12 Saxophones – Selmer Saxharmonic/Milan Turkovic – MD&G
Twelve of Germany’s most distinguished classical saxophonists formed Selmer Saxharmonic in 2006.
Audio News for May 18, 2010
Survey of UK’s Digital Media Evolution; Pianist Hank Jones Dies; Recorded Music Sales Still Down; 3D Health Risks?
Audio News for May 14, 2010
Sony Considering Purchase of EMI; New Standard for Portable Media Connection; Paramount Recalling Saving Private Ryan Blu-rays; New Asus PC for Multimedia Fanatics; First-Run Movies in the Home
“Flying Saxophone Circus” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suite No. 2; DVORAK: Slavonic Dances Nos. 1, 7 & 8; MILHAUD: Scaramoche; GERSHWIN: American Stories Suite; JEAN MATITIA: Devil’s Rag for 12 Saxophones – Selmer Saxharmonic/Milan Turkovic – MD&G
Twelve of Germany’s most distinguished classical saxophonists formed Selmer Saxharmonic in 2006.
The Stryker/Slagle Band – Keeper – Panorama
The Stryker/Slagle Band score again on their latest keeper.
Aldo Romano – Origine – Dreyfus Jazz
Aldo Romano reaches for romanticism on his latest collection of tunes.
Audio News for May 18, 2010
Survey of UK’s Digital Media Evolution; Pianist Hank Jones Dies; Recorded Music Sales Still Down; 3D Health Risks?
ZEMLINKSY: Der Traumgörge – Soloists / Opernchor der Hochscule für Musik Köln / Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker / James Conlon – EMI (2 CDs)
The hero of Zemlinsky’s opera had a run of very bad luck, just as the composer had.
Sam Cooke – Night Beat – (1962) RCA/Sony/Analogue Productions
An incomparable soul voice in audiophile sound quality.
M, Blu-ray (1931/2010)
The original blueprint for the psychological thriller, gloriously restored and with massive extras.
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 “Moonlight”; Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathetique”; Piano Sonata in No. 25 in G Major; Piano Sonata No. 23 in C Major, “Waldstein” – Steven Osborne, piano – Hyperion
The transparency as well as solidity of the performance resonates with an authority we might have ascribed to Rudolf Serkin, the iron paw padded by beguiling hues of velvet.
Carlito’s Way, Blu-ray (1993/2010)
A Minor Work From One Of The Masters.
Art Pepper – Unreleased Art, Vol. 5 – Stuttgart May 25, 1981 – Widows Taste
Can’t get enough Art….
BLASCO DE NEBRA Piano Sonatas = Sonatas Nos. 1, 2 & 5 from Keyboard Sonatas Op. 1; Sonatas Nos. 3, 4, 6, and Pastorela Nos. 2 & 6 from Manuscript 2998 – Javier Perianes, piano – Harmonia mundi
An heir to the unique keyboard style of Scarlatti and Soler.
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in C minor; Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Hungarian Dances No. 14 – Budapest Festival Orchestra/ Ivan Fischer – Channel Classics
Perhaps not the last word but should appeal to collectors of Brahms Firsts for a number of fine qualities.
Pianist Geza Anda = HAYDN: Sonata in F Major, Hob.XVI:23; SCHUMANN: Symphonic Etudes; Carnaval; RAVEL: Valses nobles et sentimentales; LIEBERMANN: Klaviersonate; CHOPIN: Ballade in G Minor; 12 Etudes; BRAHMS: Intermezzo in E-flat Major – Hanssler (2 CDs)
Hungarian virtuoso Geza Anda (1921-1976) in a recital derived from radio broadcasts from SWR Stuttgart oin the early 1950s
Nine (2009)
Not as good as Rob Marshall’s explosive Chicago, but still a welcome movie musical.
* ALBERTO GINASTERA: Popul Vuh – Rayanne Dupuis, sop. / Piano Duo /Ensemble S. / Schlagzeugenensemble der Musikhochschule / WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln / Stefan Asbury – NEOS
************ MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *************
The music is wild, noisy and unearthly. As for the recording: it’s what audiophiles live for.
DEBUSSY – Sonata for Violin and Piano; DEBUSSY arr. HARTMANN – The Girl with the Flaxen Hair; LILI BOULANGER – Nocturne; RAVEL – Sonata for Violin and Piano; POULENC – Sonata for Violin and Piano – Lin He, violin / Gregory Sioles, piano – Centaur
This is an attractive program, featuring three extended works that often show up together on disc.
FRANCK: Les Sept Paroles de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ sur la Croix; GOUNOD: Sept Paroles du Christ sur la Croix – Soloists/ Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne/Michel Corboz – Mirare
These choral rarities present us with something like archaic Romanticism in music.
SCHUMANN – Blumentück, Op. 19; Sonata for Piano No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 11; Kreisleriana, Op. 16; Arabeske, Op. 18 –Yury Martynov, piano – Caro Mitis
The program is an interesting one, mixing popular with not-so-popular piano music by Schumann, and it runs nearly 80 minutes.
HANDEL: Israel in Egypt – Soloists /Harald Hoeren, harpsichord / Christoph Lehmann and Max Hanft, organ/ Bavarian Radio Choir/ Concerto Köln/ Peter Dijkstra – BR-Klassik, 2 CDs
A problem work, but also Handel at his most magnificent.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
